Combined oscillator, go-cart, sled, and step-ladder.



PATENTED AUG. 7,-1906.

J. A. CRANDALL. COMBINED OSCILLATOR, GO CART, SLED, AND STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.27,1905.

I ML

INVENTOH '8) hi s ArroR/vsrs w WITNESSES. awn A UNITED STATES To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ESSE A. CRANDALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Oscillator, Go- Oart, Sled, and Step-Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to amusement devices for children, and more particularly to that class of devices wherein a carriage or other seat is given alternate back and forth motion by impulses communicated to it by the user.

The object of my invention is to provide an amusement device of this character with means whereby a horizontal reciprocating 'motion may be given to a suitable carriage,

and to so construct the same that the elements thereof may be themselves used separately.

To these ends the invention consists in the arrangement of parts and details of construction hereinafter definitely stated in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of oscillator. Fig. 2 is a side view of the go-cart body mounted upon sled-runners. Fig. 3 is a front view of the go-cart, the platform-frame being in section. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the platform-frame of the oscillator, showing its use as a step-ladder. Fig. 5 is a detail of the connection between the connectin '-rod and the carriage-body.

In all t e figures like numerals designate like parts.

My invention comprises a frame forming the base or platform having inclined rails, a cart or carriage adapted to be supported in the platform and rest on the rails, and oscillating figures pivoted to the platform and detachably connected to the cart.

The platform or base consists of two longitudinal side pieces 2 2, having at their forward ends the upwardly extending end pieces 3 3. Preferably the forward ends of the side pieces are provided with feet 3 3 in order that the side pieces may be raised from the floor, and the platform be inclined downwardly from front to rear. On the inside of the side pieces are attached the wheel-rails 4 4. I prefer to make the side piece 2 and the upright end piece 3 in two parts, the track 4 extending beyond the joint and covering the same, as shown in Fig. 4, thus splicing the two pieces together and strengthening the Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 27,1905. Serial No. 284,714.

PATENT OFFICE.

JESS E A. ORANDALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINED OSCILLATOR, GO-CART, SLED, AND STEP-LADDER.

Patented Aug. 7, 1906.

construction. Preferably, also, I round the forward end of the rail 4 and insert it into a dowel-socket in the end pieces. As shown, the recessed end of each side piece is turned up, and at this end between the side pieces is the rear end brace 5, which not only holds that end of the platform-frame together, but also acts as a stop for a purpose later described. At the forward end of the platform is an end board 5. (See Fig. 1.) 6 6 designate cross-bars or rungs which are inserted in holes in the tracks 4 4. For the sake of appearance, finish, and cheapness of construction the rungs 6 do not enter or pass through the side pieces 2. Thus the side pieces on the outer surfaces are smoothfaced and better adapted to receive any desired ornamentation. It is to be noted that the end pieces 3 3 have-a general rearward inclination or rake." This is not only the strongest construction, but is necessary for another reason to be stated later.

To the upper ends of the end pieces are pivoted the oscillators 7 7. These mechanically consist each of a lever pivoted at its middle to the end pieces 3, the lower end being connected by a link to a suitable carriage and the upper end to means extending from the carriage whereby the lever may be moved.

In order to make the construction attractive to children, I prefer to form the oscillators in the general form of animals, as the goose shown in the drawings. To the necks of the geese 7 are attached the ends of a pair of reins 8.

1O designates a carriage or go-cart having wheels 10 sufficiently far apart to rest on the track-rails 4 4, as shown in Fig. 3. The cart is connected to the oscillating members 8 8 by connecting-rods 9 9, pivotally attached to the legs of the geese and to the sides of the go-cart. I prefer to make the go-cart of the general construction shown in the drawings that is, with a bottom, two side pieces, and a back supporting a seat and uprights 10', supporting a box or table with raised sides. This box is not only convenient for holding to s, but it also tends to prevent a child from fa ling out of the go-cart.

The rear end brace 5, projecting as it does above the level of the rear end of rails 4 4,

acts as a stop to prevent the go-cart from run- V ning off the lower end of t e platform. It will be plain from what has been stated that the inclination of the rails 4 4 keeps the goi connecting said rods 9 the port 11.

cart normally at the lower or rear end of the platform and that when the reins 8 are pulled the oscillating members 7, through the connecting-rods 9, pull the carriage up the inclined rails to a position at the forward end of the platform and that when the reins are loosened the carriage runs backward down the incline until stopped by a pull on the reins or by coming in contact with the rear sto or brace 5. Thus by alternating the pul upon the reins and relaxing the pull thereon the child gives to the figures of the geese an oscillating movement and to the carria e a reciprocatin movement.

t is my design t at the carriage shall'be capable of use separate from the platform and oscillators, and to that end that it may be easily disconnected therefrom I form the end of each connecting-rod 9 with a horizontally-extending eye 9, which is engaged by a pin 9 on the side of the o-cart. This pin 9 is rotatable. It has a eaded end which when turned in to register with the eye 9 permits the passage of the eye over the head,

ut which when turned across said eye prevents the rod being detached from the gocart body. It will be thus seen that by disgo-cart maybe easily lifted off the platform, when it may be used as an ordinary go-cart. To this end I provide the go-cart with sockets for the reception of handles 11 and a parasol-su A simple way to form these soc ets isto recess the sides, as at 11', for the insertion of the ends of the handles and form a like recess in the back for the reception of the arasol-support.

The wheels of the go-cart are journaled upon the axles 12 and removable therefrom for the substitution of a pair of sled-runners 13, as shown in Fig. 2, which are provided with openings 13", which may be slipped over the ends of axles 12, a nut bein then screwed on the end of the axles to ho d the runners in place. I prefer to form the detachable runners in the manner shown in Fig. 1 with a longitudinal bar 13 of a suitable thickness and of a width around the axleholes 13 sufficient to fill the space between the nut on the end of the axle and the side of the wagon-body. This gives a firm bearing for the runners on the axles. The runner itself I prefer to form of a section bent sprin steel riveted at its inturned ends to the ends of the wooden bar 13 immediately beneath the axle-holes 13(. This strengthens the bar at its weakest places and brings the weight directly on the runners. The substitution of the runners for the wheels, or vice versa, may be made quickly and easily, as will be seen.

In Fig. 4 I show the platform-frame in the position in which it is used as aste -ladder. The feet 3 and the ends of the en pieces 3 bear on the floor, the extension of the end pieces giving awide base to the ladder. It is to be noted that the rearward incline of the end pieces 3, before referred to, gives a rearward rake to the side pieces 2 when the platform is set up on end, thus bringing the center of gravity immediately over the ladderbase and preventing toppling.

It will be seen that my construction provides an entirely new carriage motion in amusement devices for children and that the construction combines a number of subconstructions capable of varied use. Other forms of animals may be substituted for the igleese shown, and the general shape and conguration of the parts might be modified in numerous ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It is to be understood that by the term inclined track as used in the claims I include any form of bearing for the wheels of the carriage, whether the same be in the form of a wide platform or distinct rails on which the wheels are su ported.

Having descri ed my invention, what I claim is 1. In an amusement device, a base having an inclined track adapted to support a carriage, an oscillator pivotally mounted on the base at the upper end of the incline, a carriage adapted to move back and forth on said track, and a connection between said oscillator and said carriage, substantially as described.

2. In an amusement device, a base having an inclined track adapted to'support a carriage, an oscillator pivotally mounted on the base at the upper end of the incline, a carriage adapted to move back and forth on said track, a connection between one end of said oscillator and the carriage-body, and a con' nection attached to the opposite end of said oscillator and adapted to be grasped by the occupant of the carriage to actuate said oscillator, substantially as described.

3. In an amusement device, a base having an inclined track adapted to support a carriage, an oscillator pivotally mounted on the base, a carriage adapted to move back and forth on said track, a connecting-rod pivot ally attached at one end to the carriage-body and at the opposite end to one end of the oscillator and a flexible connection attached to the other end of said oscillator and adapted to be pulled by the occupant of the carriage to actuate the oscillator, substantially as described.

4. In an amusement device, a base having an inclined track adapted to support a carriage, an upright end piece pro ecting from said base at the upper end of the incline, an oscillator pivoted at its middle to said end piece a carriage adapted to move back and forth on said track, a connecting-rod pivotally attached to the carriage-body and the lower end of the oscillator and a flexible connection attached to the upper end of said os- IIO cillator and adapted to be pulled by the occupant of said carriage to actuate the oscillator,

V substantially as described.

5. In an amusement device a base having an inclined track adapted to support a carriage, upright end pieces at opposite sides of said base at the upper end of the incline, oscillators pivoted at their middles to said end pieces, a carriage adapted to move on said track, connecting-rods pivotally attached to the carriage-body and the lower ends of the oscillators, and a flexible connection attached to the upper ends of said oscillators and adapted to be pulled by the occupant of said carriage to actuate the oscillators, substantially as described.

6. In an amusement device a base having an inclined track adapted to support a carriage, upright end pieces projecting from opposite sides of said base at the upper end of the incline, oscillators pivoted at their middles in said end pieces, a carriage adapted to move back and forth on said track, connecting-rods pivotally attached to the lower ends of the oscillators and having pivotal detachable engagement with the carriage-body, and a flexible connection attached to the upper end of said oscillators and adapted to be pulled by the occupant of said carriage to actuate the oscillator, substantially as described.

7. In an amusement device, a base having an inclined track adapted to support a carriage, upright end dpieces projecting from opposite sides of sai base atthe upper end of the incline, oscillators pivoted at their middles to said end pieces, a carriage adapted to move back and forth on the said track and to be removable therefrom, connecting-rods pivotally attached to the lower ends of the oscillators and having pivotal detachable engagement with the carriage-body, and a flexible connection attached to the upper ends of said oscillators and adapted to be pulled by the occupant of said carriage to actuate the oscil-' lators, said carriage being provided with sockets for the reception of suitable pushing-handles for use when the carriage is removed from the base, substantially as described.

8. In an amusement device, a base having two longitudinal side pieces, wheel-tracks extending along said side pieces and adapted to support a carriage, upright end pieces on the ends of said side pieces, an oscillator pivotally mounted on said end pieces and detachable therefrom, a carriage adapted to move on said track and to be removed therefrom, a connecting-rod pivotally attached to the carriage-body and the lower end of the oscillator, a connection attached to the upper end of said oscillator and adapted to be pulled by the occupant of said carriage to actuate the oscillator, and cross-bars mounted on the side pieces and extending from one side piece to the other, substantially as described.

9. In an amusement device, in combination with a wheeled carriage, a base or platform comprising two longitudinal side pieces having end pieces projecting at an angle to and extending back in the direction of said side pieces, rails mounted along said side pieces and adapted to support the wheels of said carriage, cross-bars extending from one side piece to the other through said rails, and forming ladder-rungs, oscillators detachably pivoted to the said upright end pieces, connecting-rods between the lower ends of said oscillators and the carriage, and detachable from the latter, and a connection to the upper ends of said oscillators adapted to be pulled by an occupant of the carriage, substantially as described.

10. In an amusement device, a base having rails, oscillating members in the form of animals pivoted at the forward end of said base, a carriage adapted to move back and forth on said rails, connections between the lower ends of said oscillating members and said carriage and lines attached to the upper ends of said oscillating members, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 25th day of October, 1905.

JESSE A. ORANDALL. Witnesses:

FREDERIO B. WRIGHT. ANNETTA MOCORMAOK.- 

